Film reel



Oct. 28, 1941. is, R. sKl-NN-ER FILM ZREEL Filed 001... 423,, 1959 IN V EN TOR v S R m M R N- w. my a8 Patented Oct. 28, 1941 NITED- 'F'ILMIREEL Clifton R. Skinner, San Francisco, ,Califg. Application D'ctofber23, 1939., Serial No. 300,688. 6 Claims. (Cl. 242- This invention relatesto reelsfor motion picture film, andparticularlyto reelsadapted to holdlong lengths of narrow motion-picture film, e. g., lengths of from 1000to 2500 or more feet of 16 millimeter film.

Reels of-this character are necessarily of rather large diameter, and the central core is relatively small,- and since the reel should be light it has followed that those supplied in the past have been relatively frail and subject to bending. In order to achieve the necessary lightness it has been a frequent practice to cut away a large proportion of the side members, leaving narrow spokes. An

additional reason for this type ofstructure has been that the'narrow separation between the side members has made it difficult to start the film on the reel unless the sides were largely cut away to give plenty of fingerroom. Economy .of

construction has dictated that the central core should be riveted to the sides, and the apertures formed in the spokes toreceive the rivets has further weakened the already frail spokes, leading to breakage at the point of attachment.

With these facts in mind, the objects of this invention include the provision of a reel which combines lightness with great rigidity; the pro,- vision of a reel upon which the film may be easily fastened, even in the dark. as is commonly necessary; and the provision of a reel which combines with the above stated. advantages ease and cheapness of manufacture, as it can be constructed entirely by punch press operations.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent or will be specifically pointed out in the description forming a part of this specification, but I do not limit myself to the embodiment of the invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a reel constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a larger scale, of the reel shown in Fig. 1, the plane of section being indicated by the line 22 of the first figure.

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional View, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is another fragmentary sectional view whose plane of section is indicated by the line 4-4 of Fi 3.

-3 and spokes 5,-these-spokes being arranged in pairs with the interstices-between the spokes of adjacent pairs extending more deeply toward the center orhub than do those between the spokes of each pair, the deepest portion of these interstices being indicated in the drawing by the reference character 1.- As shown, these spaces are. U-shaped and. aresufficiently large so that a finger may readily beinser-ted in them.

The rim of the side member :as well as the sides of the spokes are provided with flanges 9, bent outwardly from the plane of the member at an angle of approximately 45. It will at once be seen that this angle is by no means critical, and may vary plus or'minus 15or more from the value given without detracting from'the utility of the device. The angle stated is, however, readily formed under the press and, gives the requisite degree of stiffness.

Arranged in acircle, approximately at the bases of the shorter interstices between the spokes of each pair, are bosses ll projecting inwardly. These bosses are of approximately parallelogram form and are contiguous to the flanges, and the angle of their sides is materially less than that of the flanges. This is shown in detail, in Fig. 4, where it may be-seen that the side l3 of each of thebosses II is formed at an angle of approximately 15 to the plane of the side member and at an angle of approximately 30 to the angle of the flange 9 into which it blends. Each of the bosses is perforated to provide an attachment to which a core may be riveted.

The core comprises. a plurality of segments. Each ofthese segments comprises a U-shaped central portion l5, which substantially conforms with the contour of the interpair interstices l, and, as seen in Fig. 1, underlies the flange which surrounds this portion of each interstice. Extending from the upper end of the arms of the U-shaped portion are arcuate wing portions l1. Each of these wings is provided with projecting rivets or lugs 19, which engage the openings in the bosses I I, and are riveted thereto, thus holding two side pieces together This formation of the core is advantageous from several points of View. First, the segments may be completely formed in a punch-press, involving merely a blanking and a forming operation, which operations may, if desirable, be combined. After forming, the parts are short, are easy to handle, and are not liable to become tangled with each other as is the case of rolled strips from which such cores are customarily formed. Third, the segments after formation are stable when set on edge, which facilitates assembly, the riveted spokes on each segment being merely engaged with the openings in the bosses of two spokes of adjacent pairs, each segment bridging the gap between one pair of spokes, and it being unnecessary to engage a large number of lugs on a long strip. The second side plate can likewise be readily engaged with the lugs of the segments already set in place on the first side, and all of the lugs riveted at a single operation.

The advantages of the construction are not, however, limited to ease of manufacture. The bosses provide strength in the spokes at the very point where they are otherwise weakened by the rivet hole, cooperating with the flanges about the spokes to provide great rigidity at this point.

Furthermore, the construction gives a reel upon which it is very easy to start the fihn,'even in the dark. The outwardly turned flanges serve to guide the end of the film onto the reel. With the end of the film lying across one of the U- shaped openings between the spokes, a, finger may be lain across it, bending it down into the opening and holding it in place while one or two turns of the reel are accomplished. This forces these inner turns of the film under the Wedgeshaped edges of the bosses, which hold it firmly in place, in addition to the holding action of the overlying turn. Finally, because of the plurality of openings provided, it is not even necessary to orient the reel in starting the film;

The usual means of mounting the reel upon the spindle are, of course, provided. In this case this mounting means comprises a square hole 2| formed in the center of each of the two side members, with a slot 23 formed diagonally across it.

I claim:

1. A reel for strip material such as motion picture film, comprising a pair of spoked side members of sheet material, the spokes being arranged in pairs with deeper interstices between the pairs than between the members of a pair, and each spoke being provided with an inwardly projecting boss, and a central core connecting said side members and comprising a plurality of segments each comprising a central U-shaped portion whose contour conforms substantially to the interstice between the pairs of spokes and wings of arcuate contour extending from the ends of the arms of the central portion and fixed to the bosses of the spokes of adjacent pairs.

2. A reel for strip material such as motion picture film, comprising a pair of spoked sheet metal side members, each of the spokes having an outwardly projecting reinforcing flange embossed around its contour and an inwardly projecting boss, at the base of each spoke connecting with said flange, and a core connecting said side members and riveted to said bosses.

3. A reel for strip material such as motion picture film, comprising a pair of spoked sheet metal side members, each of the spokes having an outwardly projecting reinforcing flange embossed around its contour and an inwardly projecting boss, at the base of each spoke connecting with said flange, and a core connecting said side members and comprising a plurality of segments each riveted to the bosses on a pair of adjacent spokes.

4. A reel for strip material such as motion picture film, comprising a pair of spoked sheet metal side members, outwardly projecting flanges formed on the edges of said spokes at an angle therewith of approximately bosses formed at the base of said spokes and contiguous to said flanges, the sides of said bosses having an angle of less than the angle of the flanges with respect to both the plane of the side members and the flanges, and a central core connecting said side members and secured to said bosses.

5. A reel for strip material such as motion picture film, comprising a pair of spoked sheet metal side members, outwardly projecting flanges formed on the edges of said spokes at an angle therewith of approximately 45, bosses formed at the base of said spokes and contiguous to said flanges, the sides of said bosses having an angle of less than the angle of the flanges with respect to both the plane of the side members and. the flanges, and a central core connecting said side members and comprising a plurality of segments each riveted to the bosses of at least two adjacent spokes.

6. A film reel as recited in claim 3 wherein the minimum distance between opposed bosses adjacent the outer surface of said core is slightly less than the width of said film to hold the first film turns on said core by wedging action of said bosses against the film edges.

CLIFTON R. SKINNER. 

